A few months ago, U.S. Champion Alexander Shabalov was not sure that he'd be able to make it for his sixth year in a row to the Curacao Chess Festival (July 17-26), because it conflicts with the Continental Championship. After winning the U.S. Champs, he had no need to race for a championship spot in Columbia, so he is back in the Dutch Carribean island, leading the tournament with Viktor Mikhalevski. Mikhalevski is an Israeli GM who is a frequent guest in big-money American Opens. Viktor and Alex face off today.